23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time C

23rd  Sunday Ordinary Time   Cycle C

Welcome children to their worship space.

Ask them to get their carpet squares and sit down in a circle.

Introduce yourself and your helpers.

Introduce

             Explain: Today is the Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time. 

Ask:  Does anyone remember what we talked about last week?  <hold up the Number One>  We talked about the importance of being humble – of treating other people like they were Jesus himself.

Introduce symbol

Say:  Today’s symbol <hold up the symbol> is a cross.  What does the cross symbolize?  <the sacrifice that Jesus made for us>

   

Say:  Let’s look at the poster.  What does it say? <In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. > This is our Responsorial Psalm for today.  The Responsorial Psalms also come from Scripture, from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament.

Ask:  What is a refuge?  <a place where we can be safe>  How is God our refuge?  <he always loves us and accepts who we are>

Introduce readings

We have two readings today.

Say:  Let’s light the candle to show that we are ready to listen to the Words of God.

Say: Today’s first reading is from the Old Testament book of Wisdom. (Wis 9:16c–18)  Does any one of us know what God is thinking or what he has planned?  <no>  Do you think we should understand the will of God?  <discuss>  Would it make life easier or harder if we knew everything?  <discuss>  Let’s listen to the reading from the Book of Wisdom and see if we can figure out what we are supposed to know.

Have the reader read the first reading.

Ask: Who came to earth from heaven to help us understand?  <the Holy Spirit> We celebrated his coming a few weeks ago at a feast.  Does anyone remember the name of the feast?  <Pentecost>

Say: Now it is time for the Responsorial Psalm.  Your part is to say:

In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Say:  Today’s Gospel reading comes from the book of Luke.  (Lk 14:25-27). When we see a cross, we think of Jesus’ sacrifice for us.  If I were to tell you that we all have crosses, what do you think that they might be?  <problems, pain, worries, etc.>  Does anyone here have any crosses?  <discuss>  Can we explain why some people have more problems than others?  Is it always their fault?  <not really>  But we each have our own lives and we each have our own set of joys and troubles.  Jesus had something to say about our crosses.  Let’s find out what it is.

Say:  Now we will stand to get ready to hear the Gospel

(hold up card)  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Have the reader begin: “a reading from the holy gospel.....”

Read:  Read the Gospel

Ask:  So what did you hear Jesus say?  <discuss>  Do you think he understands about our crosses?  <yes, he came to be one of us so that he could understand how it feels to be a person.>  He knows what it’s like to be hurt or to be sad.

Say: He understands, but he expects us to handle our problems.  He expects us to try our best to be good people even when things go wrong for us.

Hand out the poster cut-outs (crosses).  Ask the children to write their names on them to create a group poster.

Hand out the symbols to color and cut out. (The symbol is a cross). 

 

Explain: Color this symbol of the cross and bring it to the altar (don’t forget to put your name on the back!)  to show that we have learned about doing the right thing even when we are sad or hurting.

Ask the older children to write one problem that they have to work around this week.

If there is time, ask questions and go over the lessons one more time to help the children remember.

Give out stickers and hand-outs as they leave.

Parent Letter

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time  C

Dear Parents,

           Today we celebrate the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time.  The children listened to simplified versions of two of the same readings you did:  Wisdom 9:16c-18 and Luke 14:25-27.

Symbol: Cross

To reinforce at home:

Today’s readings remind us that we all have crosses, or burdens to bear.  Jesus taught us to carry our crosses while we do his work.  He loves us so much that he became human just to be able to understand what our problems feel like.  He not only knows what he asks us to do, but he did it himself.

Activities to do at home:

*Pray together! Together with your child, talk about some of your personal crosses (problems).  Help your child identify his or her own crosses.  Make a large posterboard cross and write them down.  Pray for the strength to accept and bear your crosses.

*Think of others! Think of someone close to you who has a difficulty you can help with. (like being a friend for someone who is lonely or helping with chores for an elderly neighbor.)  Do one thing this week to lighten someone else’s burden.

Thank you for sharing your children!